American designers tackle tuscan villa restoration, sheep included
Jenny and Dave Marrs, the duo behind HGTV’s Fixer to Fabulous, have traded Bentonville, Arkansas, for the rolling hills of Tuscany, tackling their most ambitious project yet: a centuries-old villa known as Campo Sasso, meaning “the rocky field.” It’s a story not just of renovation, but of navigating a foreign landscape—and a surprising number of logistical hurdles—to fulfill a couple’s dream of a vacation rental.
A historic home, a bold vision, and a whole lot of challenges
Rebecca and Pierre Gouttenoire, the current owners, purchased the property for roughly €800,000 ($858,000) with a vision of transforming it into a charming retreat. Enlisting the Marrses, longtime friends, seemed a natural fit, but the reality proved far more complex than a typical American renovation. The initial €400,000 ($435,000) budget and seven-month timeline were ambitious, to say the least, especially given the pair’s unfamiliarity with Italian building codes and practices.
“In America, if I need something, I’ve got a subcontractor I can call,” Dave Marrs explained, highlighting the stark contrast. “I’ve got a shop I can go build something in. In Italy, I knew none of that. I was reliant on other people.” The language barrier, coupled with limited on-site visits and the inevitable flight anxiety, added layers of complexity.
Blending tradition with modern comforts
Recognizing the need for local expertise, the Marrses partnered with Florence-based architect André Benaim and project manager Sofia Lalli of Studio Benaim. This collaboration proved invaluable, navigating permits and overseeing the work of local builders while the Marrses managed from afar. The villa, boasting a solid foundation of concrete and stone, underwent a significant overhaul.
The former stables, for example, were ingeniously transformed into a spacious, light-filled kitchen. New terra-cotta and olive wood flooring now graces the interior, and carefully placed windows showcase the breathtaking countryside views. Each of the three bedrooms received an en suite bathroom, enhancing the villa’s appeal to discerning guests. And, a charming detail requested by the owners? A dedicated shed for their flock of sheep.
A cheese cellar, wine window, and handcrafted details
Perhaps the most unique aspect of the renovation is the inclusion of a custom-designed cheese cellar—a first for the Marrses. “We’re always trying to get rid of moisture in basements,” Dave noted, “and this was actually reintroducing moisture so you can promote mold to grow and age the cheese.” The resulting space, capable of storing up to 40,000 pounds of cheese (a potential value of $50,000), is complemented by a tasting room and preparation station.
The Gouttenoires’ fondness for Italian tradition inspired the creation of a wine storage room, complete with a niche for special bottles and a classic “wine window” for dispensing glasses. “Everything we got for the house was handmade, from the windows to the doors,” Dave emphasized, underscoring the commitment to preserving the villa’s heritage.
A lesson in resourcefulness and resilience
Jenny Marrs admitted the project pushed them outside their comfort zone. “You get sort of stuck in a rut when you’re doing the same thing over and over,” she said, “and this project was so challenging, but in a good way.” It was a lesson in resourcefulness, relying on word-of-mouth recommendations to find trustworthy vendors within a tight budget.
The Campo Sasso villa is now ready to welcome guests seeking a slow-Travel experience immersed in the Tuscan countryside. As Dave Marrs succinctly put it, “There were so many days where we were just exhausted, but it was a really amazing experience.” And with talk of future international projects, it seems the Marrses’ architectural horizons have expanded far beyond Arkansas.